Over 1,300 artists are signing an open letter to the Arts and Culture world that addresses the violations against artists who express solidarity with Palestine. Among the signatories is the award-winning actress Olivia Colman, known for her latest role in Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favorite Olivia Colman.
“While catastrophe unfolds, we have observed a glaring absence of statements of solidarity with Palestinian people from most UK arts organizations. We find it deeply troubling and, frankly, indicative of a disturbing double standard that expressions of solidarity…Such a discrepancy raises serious questions about bias in the response to grave human rights violations.”
https://twitter.com/williamalsharif/status/1730227385365127468
The letter mentions numerous recent incidents that back up their accusations of Western cultural institutes targeting and threatening the livelihood of artists who express solidarity with Palestine. Examples of such censorship are “canceling performances, screenings, talks, exhibitions, and book launches.” This includes the cancellation of the curator Anais Duplan Afrofuturism exhibition at Folkwang Museum and the dismissal of Melissa Barrero from Scream VII after voicing support for Palestine.
JUST IN:
Jenna Ortega ENDED HER CONTRACT with the Scream franchise, after Melissa Barrero was fired for supporting PALESTINE! 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/I3JkARTymd
— ASTEROID (@grantasteroid) November 23, 2023
In addition to Colman, other signatories include Olivier Award winners Harriet Walter and Juliet Stevenson, Aimee Lou Wood and Siobhán McSweeney, Paapa Essiedu, Susanne Wokoma, and Youseff Kerkour.
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